Seven Costanza said:

---

Some reports that their free agent target is Kemba Walker. ESPN speculating that they may break up their almost max cap room among 2-3 players instead.

---

LeBron + AD + Kemba + Kuzma would be a pretty good start...and they still can play Alex Caruso off the bench!

ESPN mentioned Caruso as a key guy on the team going forward during the segment. (although that's probably because he and Mo Wagner are literally the only other players on the roster right now besides LBJ, AD, and Kuzma)

I think both teams made out ok.

LA will need some veteran shooters to sign on but that will definitely make things interesting.

and AC has over a dozen teams interested

They may be better off going with Danny Green/JJ Redick/Brook Lopez types rather than spending it all on Kemba.

AD is expected to sign a new contract with the Lakers when he becomes a free agent in 2020.

Johnsy3 said:

---

DSAg44 said:

---

Frok said:

---

The NBA sucks. Every off season is about which new super team is forming.

---

when was the last time a team won the old fashioned way like the spurs? I can't remember.

---

Pre-KD warriors?

---

right - I forgot about them

ATM9000 said:

---

DSAg44 said:

---

Frok said:

---

The NBA sucks. Every off season is about which new super team is forming.

---

when was the last time a team won the old fashioned way like the spurs? I can't remember.

---

You mean by tanking then getting real fortunate to get a generational player?

---

riiiiiiiiiiiight....I understand you're hatred though

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/6/15/18680631/lakers-anthony-davis-lebron-zion-williamson-present-future-nba

A league source told me Saturday that the picks going to New Orleans are the no. 4 selection in the 2019 draft, a protected first in 2021, and an unprotected first in 2024. The Pelicans will also have the right to swap firsts in 2023.

Don't bank on Kyrie Irving reuniting with LeBron. League sources fully expect him to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

Kawhi Leonard, who league sources say the Lakers will pursue.

Back in 2014, the Cavs had to sign Andrew Wiggins to his rookie contract, then wait 30 days until he was eligible to be traded to meet NBA contract requirements to complete it. Odds are, this is precisely what'll happen with the Lakers and Pelicans.

If the Lakers sign Kemba or a different star to a max contract using cap space, they'll only have the room mid-level exception remaining, which is worth $4.76 million, and the league minimum. Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade haven't filed for retirement just yet! Vince Carter, Jamal Crawford, Wesley Matthews, Jeff Green, and Joakim Noah are a few other veterans who come to mind as ring-chasing candidates. With the rest of their salary cap dedicated to LeBron, AD, a third star, and Kuzma, and the rights to all their picks belonging to the Pelicans, the Lakers will have to build through free agency.

DSAg44 said:

---

ATM9000 said:

---

DSAg44 said:

---

Frok said:

---

The NBA sucks. Every off season is about which new super team is forming.

---

when was the last time a team won the old fashioned way like the spurs? I can't remember.

---

You mean by tanking then getting real fortunate to get a generational player?

---

riiiiiiiiiiiight....I understand you're hatred though

---

I'm not hating but... they tanked. Twice. And got crazy good players out of it. Spurs fans get all pissy when you point it out for whatever reason. I don't blame them for it... but they did tank and I don't see how that's any more noble that the superteams.

Kawhii?


What a garbage league. I think I'm done.

ATM9000 said:

---

DSAg44 said:

---

ATM9000 said:

---

DSAg44 said:

---

Frok said:

---

The NBA sucks. Every off season is about which new super team is forming.

---

when was the last time a team won the old fashioned way like the spurs? I can't remember.

---

You mean by tanking then getting real fortunate to get a generational player?

---

riiiiiiiiiiiight....I understand you're hatred though

---

I'm not hating but... they tanked. Twice. And got crazy good players out of it. Spurs fans get all pissy when you point it out for whatever reason. I don't blame them for it... but they did tank and I don't see how that's any more noble that the superteams.

---

they tanked to get Parker and Ginobli? 2 of the big 3 that got them there? I don't remember when they were drafted. It couldn't have been lottery picks though.

. . . said:

---

---

Hmmm....Lebron decimating a franchise's future to acquire assets. Wonder where I've seen that before.



(Note: Worth it if championship involved).

Could definitely see Rondo returning, but I'll be real interested to see where Boogie Cousins ends up.

Frok said:

---

The NBA sucks. Every off season is about which new super team is forming.

---

Reports are that Lakers are going to try to swing for Kawhi too.

Kawhi going to join Lakers with LeBron and AD would be hilarious. After Everybody just got finished celebrating that the evil Warriors super team was done, well Hello Lakers evil super team.

I am skeptical Kawhi does that, though he apparently does love LA and the Clippers have been rumored for quite some time as the team he now goes to if leaving Toronto. Unless devastated by injuries like the Warriors just were, LeBron + Kawhi + AD would = Almost guaranteed 2020 NBA title.

Even if he just goes to Clippers, kind of insane all those guys would be in the city of Los Angeles.

Isn't Lebron getting up there in years and coming off an injury plagued season? I'm not so sure this duo of him and AD is all it's cracked up to be. I could be very wrong though.

Prob won't ever get to see it, but man a matchup of:
Curry, Klay, Durant, draymond vs
LBJ, Kawhi, Anthony Davis would be awesome to watch.

Lots of money being thrown around here...one reason I don't watch the NBA anymore.

sincereag said:

---

Isn't Lebron getting up there in years and coming off an injury plagued season? I'm not so sure this duo of him and AD is all it's cracked up to be. I could be very wrong though.

---

LeBron will still probably be a top-5 to Top-7 player in the league next season, even with some drop-off. Anthony Davis will be a Top-5 player in the League.

So the Lakers will have arguably 2 of the top-5 NBA players plus have enough cap room to add a third star (Kemba?) or otherwise fill out the roster.

If they add that third All-Star and reasonably complete the roster with some vet players (perhaps looking for a ring), they are certainly an NBA title contender and will maybe be Vegas favorite to win it.

Who else in the West would stop them? GSW just got screwed with horrible long rehab required injuries (though maybe Klay would be back for playoffs if they make it).

Spurs don't have the at least 1 All-NBA level player that you usually need to get to and win the Finals, Harden (or Paul) have yet to ever show they can get to a Finals and Paul is on downslope of what his prime was, Denver?, Thunder?, Utah? Clippers if Kawhi goes there?

I saw where Vegas already has the Lakers as the odds on favorite to win the title next year. I'm hoping the Mavs can get another good player to team with Doncic and Porzingas. I like the Mavs future a lot.

People that do nothing but post unsolicited hate on a forum dedicated to that specific sport blows my mind. I don't understand how anyone likes watching Baseball but I'm not posting on that sub with "what's the point of playing this game when teams like the Yankees and Red Sox just outspend everyone for the best talent? Every year is just which super team is forming'" Go somewhere else please.

Anyways;

I think NOLA hit a home run and it's mostly because they already got Zion. This package from LA gives them all the assets they need to build a juggernaut around the generational player. It's the best launching platform any team can ever dream of.

As for LA; they are treading dangerous waters. It was the failed Dwight Howard+Steve Nash trade that sunk them into this blackhole for the past 5 years. If things go wrong, this trade will set them back for a decade.

sincereag said:

---

Isn't Lebron getting up there in years and coming off an injury plagued season? I'm not so sure this duo of him and AD is all it's cracked up to be. I could be very wrong though.

---

Nobody in the NBA takes fitness and self-care more seriously than LeBron does, but he'll turn 35 later this year and he has piled up historically high minutes over 15 seasons while running the offense + guarding the other team's best player every night. There's no escaping that.

He has enough size, moves, and smarts to continue to contribute heavily on offense, but the days of his explosive offensive moves and smothering defense are quickly drawing to a close if they aren't already gone (he was totally pedestrian on defense this year).

LeBron will (and should) just coast through next regular season - with plenty of games off. All that matters is making playoffs and what he still has in the tank for at least one more post-season run.

Michael Jordan was nearly 35 years old when he won his 6th (and last) NBA title. And he was still the best player in NBA that season who took over games. I think LeBron still has one more really good season left in the tank where he can still be a really dominant force - assuming he stays injury free.

Anthony Davis is arguably going to be the most talented player LeBron has ever had in his team his entire career.

Remember that Jordan also took off to seasons which probably helped a lot of wear and tear

Guitarsoup said:

---

Remember that Jordan also took off to seasons which probably helped a lot of wear and tear

---

That 6th title was a third consecutive NBA title run (at the end of three long consecutive seasons from November into June). I am skeptical those 2 two seasons in baseball three years earlier were helping him much at that point.

And LeBron got lots of extra rest the last few months, getting to skip the entire playoffs.

We have to see what the rest of the LAkers roster looks like, but let's face the facts. LeBron is a still an amazing player and physical freak. He'll 'load manage' the next regular season probably skipping certain games and coasting on defense to conserve himself. And then assuming Lakers make playoffs, he'll probably be a beast and very difficult for other teams to deal with next May/June.

I think not going to the Finals for 8 straight years helped Jordan a ton.

Minutes played is generally considered a better barometer than straight years, although obviously both matter.

LeBron is 17th all-time in regular season minutes at 46,000 compared to Jordan who finished the '97-98 season at 36,000. LeBron is the all-time leader in playoff minutes at 10,000 to Jordan's 7,500. LeBron has done that carrying about 50 more pounds than Jordan.

I remember watching a documentary where Jordan and Pippin said the psychological strain of three straight finals trips was almost as bad as the physical strain. Eight in a row?!

Jordan's longevity was impressive; LeBron's is astounding even if he retires tomorrow. And even though his season was injury plagued and his worst from an advanced stats perspective since his rookie year... he still averaged 27 with 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists with a steal and a block. Even Kareem was slowing down at this mileage.

Ulrich said:

---

Minutes played is generally considered a better barometer than straight years, although obviously both matter.

LeBron is 17th all-time in regular season minutes at 46,000 compared to Jordan who finished the '97-98 season at 36,000. LeBron is the all-time leader in playoff minutes at 10,000 to Jordan's 7,500. LeBron has done that carrying about 50 more pounds than Jordan.

I remember watching a documentary where Jordan and Pippin said the psychological strain of three straight finals trips was almost as bad as the physical strain. Eight in a row?!

Jordan's longevity was impressive; LeBron's is astounding even if he retires tomorrow. And even though his season was injury plagued and his worst from an advanced stats perspective since his rookie year... he still averaged 27 with 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists with a steal and a block. Even Kareem was slowing down at this mileage.

---

Michael Jordan at age THIRTY-NINE with the Wizards averaged 37 minutes per game and 20 ppg. And he played in all 82 games that year! Nuts! He wasn't the same player obviously as he had been in his prime, but he had bulked up muscle wise and he was so damn skilled that he was still a pretty good player.

LeBron is similar super skilled and already built like a frigging tank. As pointed out in the post above, look at his good production last year despite some injury issues.

Even slowing down, the guy is still probably going to be a Top-5 to Top-7 player in the NBA next season. Posters trying to convince themselves that he might not be an elite player...sure if he gets injured again then he won't...but if he doesn't get hurt, then he'll be a major handful for anybody in a playoffs matchup.

As I mentioned in earlier post, he'll almost certainly coast in the regular season minimizing effort and wear and tear as much as he can afford to get away. Then he'll be 'all-in' for the playoffs. With AD and LeBron, Lakers would have the best frontcourt of any playoff team. Now it is all about who they are able to surround those two guys with.